fl — FORMS library for graphical user interfaces

Deprecated since version 2.6: The fl module has been removed in Python 3.

This module provides an interface to the FORMS Library by Mark Overmars. The source for the library can be retrieved by anonymous FTP from host ftp.cs.ruu.nl, directory SGI/FORMS. It was last tested with version 2.0b.

Most functions are literal translations of their C equivalents, dropping the initial fl_ from their name. Constants used by the library are defined in module FL described below.

The creation of objects is a little different in Python than in C: instead of the ‘current form’ maintained by the library to which new FORMS objects are added, all functions that add a FORMS object to a form are methods of the Python object representing the form. Consequently, there are no Python equivalents for the C functions fl_addto_form() and fl_end_form(), and the equivalent of fl_bgn_form() is called fl.make_form().

Watch out for the somewhat confusing terminology: FORMS uses the word object for the buttons, sliders etc. that you can place in a form. In Python, ‘object’ means any value. The Python interface to FORMS introduces two new Python object types: form objects (representing an entire form) and FORMS objects (representing one button, slider etc.). Hopefully this isn’t too confusing.

There are no ‘free objects’ in the Python interface to FORMS, nor is there an easy way to add object classes written in Python. The FORMS interface to GL event handling is available, though, so you can mix FORMS with pure GL windows.

Please note: importing fl implies a call to the GL function foreground() and to the FORMS routine fl_init().

1. Functions Defined in Module fl

Module fl defines the following functions. For more information about what they do, see the description of the equivalent C function in the FORMS documentation:

fl.make_form(type, width, height)

Create a form with given type, width and height. This returns a form object, whose methods are described below.

fl.do_forms()

The standard FORMS main loop. Returns a Python object representing the FORMS object needing interaction, or the special value FL.EVENT.

fl.check_forms()

Check for FORMS events. Returns what do_forms() above returns, or None if there is no event that immediately needs interaction.

fl.set_event_call_back(function)

Set the event callback function.

fl.set_graphics_mode(rgbmode, doublebuffering)

Set the graphics modes.

fl.get_rgbmode()

Return the current rgb mode. This is the value of the C global variable fl_rgbmode.

fl.show_message(str1, str2, str3)

Show a dialog box with a three-line message and an OK button.

fl.show_question(str1, str2, str3)

Show a dialog box with a three-line message and YES and NO buttons. It returns 1 if the user pressed YES, 0 if NO.

fl.show_choice(str1, str2, str3, but1[, but2[, but3]])

Show a dialog box with a three-line message and up to three buttons. It returns the number of the button clicked by the user (1, 2 or 3).

fl.show_input(prompt, default)

Show a dialog box with a one-line prompt message and text field in which the user can enter a string. The second argument is the default input string. It returns the string value as edited by the user.

fl.show_file_selector(message, directory, pattern, default)

Show a dialog box in which the user can select a file. It returns the absolute filename selected by the user, or None if the user presses Cancel.

fl.get_directory()

fl.get_pattern()

fl.get_filename()

These functions return the directory, pattern and filename (the tail part only) selected by the user in the last show_file_selector() call.

fl.qdevice(dev)

fl.unqdevice(dev)

fl.isqueued(dev)

fl.qtest()

fl.qread()

fl.qreset()

fl.qenter(dev, val)

fl.get_mouse()

fl.tie(button, valuator1, valuator2)

These functions are the FORMS interfaces to the corresponding GL functions. Use these if you want to handle some GL events yourself when using fl.do_events(). When a GL event is detected that FORMS cannot handle, fl.do_forms() returns the special value FL.EVENT and you should call fl.qread() to read the event from the queue. Don’t use the equivalent GL functions!

fl.color()

fl.mapcolor()

fl.getmcolor()

See the description in the FORMS documentation of fl_color(), fl_mapcolor() and fl_getmcolor().

2. Form Objects

Form objects (returned by make_form() above) have the following methods. Each method corresponds to a C function whose name is prefixed with fl_; and whose first argument is a form pointer; please refer to the official FORMS documentation for descriptions.

All the add_*() methods return a Python object representing the FORMS object. Methods of FORMS objects are described below. Most kinds of FORMS object also have some methods specific to that kind; these methods are listed here.

Form objects have the following data attributes; see the FORMS documentation:

Name

C Type

Meaning

window

int (read-only)

GL window id

w

float

form width

h

float

form height

x

float

form x origin

y

float

form y origin

deactivated

int

nonzero if form is deactivated

visible

int

nonzero if form is visible

frozen

int

nonzero if form is frozen

doublebuf

int

nonzero if double buffering on

3. FORMS Objects

Besides methods specific to particular kinds of FORMS objects, all FORMS objects also have the following methods:

FORMS object.set_call_back(function, argument)

Set the object’s callback function and argument. When the object needs interaction, the callback function will be called with two arguments: the object, and the callback argument. (FORMS objects without a callback function are returned by fl.do_forms() or fl.check_forms() when they need interaction.) Call this method without arguments to remove the callback function.

FORMS object.delete_object()

Delete the object.

FORMS object.show_object()

Show the object.

FORMS object.hide_object()

Hide the object.

FORMS object.redraw_object()

Redraw the object.

FORMS object.freeze_object()

Freeze the object.

FORMS object.unfreeze_object()

Unfreeze the object.

FORMS objects have these data attributes; see the FORMS documentation:

FL — Constants used with the fl module

Deprecated since version 2.6: The FL module has been removed in Python 3.

This module defines symbolic constants needed to use the built-in module fl (see above); they are equivalent to those defined in the C header file <forms.h> except that the name prefix FL_ is omitted. Read the module source for a complete list of the defined names. Suggested use:

import fl
from FL import *

flp — Functions for loading stored FORMS designs

Deprecated since version 2.6: The flp module has been removed in Python 3.

This module defines functions that can read form definitions created by the ‘form designer’ (fdesign) program that comes with the FORMS library (see module fl above).

For now, see the file flp.doc in the Python library source directory for a description.